Company Ownership

Energizer acquired Schick-Wilkinson Sword in 2003 and Playtex Products in 2007. Then in 2015 the company spun off its personal care division to create a separate company, Edgewell. Energizer bought the battery and lighting business of Spectrum Brands for US$2 billion in 2018, adding Rayovac and Varta batteries to its lineup.

In 2013 and 2012 the Therapeutic Goods Administration's Complaints Resolution Panel upheld complaints about ads by this company on the grounds that they breached advertising codes. The Panel requested this company withdraw the ads and not to use representations in the ads again.[Source 2013][More on Irresponsible Marketing]

For years, several thousand Chinese workers at four factories owned by Gold Peak International made nickel-cadmium batteries using hand tools and simple machines for major U.S. distributors such as Rayovac, Panasonic, Eveready and Energizer. No one told them cadmium is a carcinogen capable of causing severe bone pain, kidney failure and death. Hundreds of these workers suffered health problems such as severe headaches, sore throats and vomiting as a result of exposure to cadmium. Some died. [noted as Information due to age of report][Source 2007][More on Workers Rights]

Energizer subsidiary Schick was listed on PETA (people for the ethical treatment of animals, USA) 'Companies that test on animals' factsheet. They have been removed from that list.[Source x][More on Animal Testing]

This company is a member of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (formerly the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative), which helps companies address conflict minerals issues in their supply chains. The RMI provides information on conflict-free smelters and refiners, common tools to gather sourcing information, and forums for exchanging best practices on addressing conflict minerals. Membership is open to companies that use or transact in tantalum, tin, tungsten or gold (3TG). Founded in 2008 by members of the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative.[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.[Source 2016][More on Human Rights]

OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.[Source 2014]